Ukraine's First Lady Declines White House Invite Over Navalny Controversy

Olena Zelenska opted out of the State of the Union to avoid association with Alexei Navalny's widow, reflecting Ukraine's complex stance on Russian opposition figures.

Olena Zelenska, Ukraine's first lady, declined a White House invitation to avoid being seen with Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Alexei Navalny.
Navalny's legacy is controversial in Ukraine due to his past statements on Crimea, leading to discomfort among Ukrainian officials.
Both Zelenska and Navalnaya ultimately did not attend the State of the Union, citing scheduling conflicts and the need for recovery, respectively.
The attempted seating arrangement at the State of the Union aimed to symbolize unity against Putin but failed due to political sensitivities.
Ukraine is cautious about appearing too aligned with Biden amid efforts to secure further U.S. aid, avoiding politicization of the war effort.